#i need to practice the fundamentals of art but I cannot bc I can only draw Tecchou

[strayg0dss]

what is your secret to cooking this hard

Autism, I'm afraid

[butterfly-ribbon]

i keep thinking about secret distance; it's not only mizuki's first event. effectively, it's triggered by ena's breakdown about art and subsequent escape to sekai. mizuki's internalized guilt and regret are rooted in the thought that "if we'd known about how ena had been suffering for so long, we could have done something to help. but we didn't until she fell into self-destruction and shut herself off from the entire world." secret distance is, then, all about mizuki's desire to learn about everyone else in order to get ahead of such fears — in order to become the support she feels they all desperately need. unfortunately, it's all give and no take, bc mizuki never intends to give anything of herself over to niigo in return.

this in conjunction with meiko's introduction to the empty sekai is particularly interesting. it is made evident that meiko is the vocaloid most representative to mizuki's heart — this meiko who is deadpan, avoidant, and fundamentally distant from all others as she takes to observation over action — she solely exists in this sekai as a reflection of mizuki herself. it's very specific and makes meiko so compelling; not only bc having the cheerful character who Tries Too Hard to be kind to others also be cold and distant on the inside makes me insane, it's also bc meiko has mafuyu's "emotionless doll" interior with ena's embittered tongue atop mizuki's closed heart. it's pointed for them introduce meiko's desire to watch from afar without involvement (without giving herself over to others) in the same event where mizuki wants to secretly learn all she can about others while distancing herself to avoid revealing information in return.

further interesting is that one of the first few things project sekai tells us about mizuki per niigo's intro is how little interest she has in ever going outside; she can easily access any anime or film she desires through the internet — through her little room, her oasis, her utopia, the glass in which she bottles her every emotion. mizuki's engagement with fiction informs the nature of how she self-narrativizes. this, in turn, permeates her every interpersonal action. mizuki constructs her outward persona around the trope of the Silly Genki Girl, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, the Ball of Sunshine, Well of Endless Optimism — she constructs a self who exists purely to provide support, solely to help others with their own problems at the cost of her own (and oh, how costly it is) bc of her hyper-cognizance of the reality that will only accept this type of self. this is the kind of girl the world expects her to be. these are the sole means by which she can maintain space for herself.

so, we come as always back to transmisogyny. her transness is seen unpalatable enough as is, so she cannot afford to be a real person with real problems — she has no choice but to be an idea and a trope and an archetype (a beautiful breakdown of how many gacha games have to work in Selling An Archetype to as many Fans as possible). this isn't helped by how mizuki's current point in life actually has positive qualities; she has the "privilege" of a part-time job at a clothing store which is related to her own interest in fashion. she gets to practice her artistic hobby comfortably (making clothes, wearing clothes, modifying clothes, engaging with clothes as a form of communication), unlike the rest of niigo. kanade, mafuyu, ena; all of them struggle so much with the idea of making art. it is something painful, sometimes poisonous, for them. it contributes to that sense of "privilege" bc a transmisogynistic society is always primed to ignore the misogyny that trans girls are endlessly subjected to bc they're not "real" problems.

returning to the specifics of the event — it is so pointed that every horror story mizuki tells during her personally constructed mystery tour are singularly centered around girls (we'll leave aside how the mystery tour so easily goes hand-in-hand with her literal locked room in The Path of Thorns, but it's important to recognize always and it's also important to recognize that mizuki's interest in horror is largely bc women are what make horror what it is).

the tunnel ghost who was a girl in pain, villified bc "hearing her out" leads to the listener being cursed, two sisters who loved each other more than anything to the point they were willing to curse others for having that which they themselves lost, and a girl who committed suicide due to everyone's expectations crushing her (mafuyu explicitly states she relates to this, but we can see how kanade and ena are also meant to be related back to the previous stories). these yuurei not only reflect niigo, but further reflect mizuki herself. mizuki desperately wishes to be seen; to receive the same engagement as one of them (as a cis girl would be engaged with). yet this only amplifies her guilt, and so distances herself with fiction as her only medium to connect.

one of my favorite parts is when they visit the shrine. mizuki begins to ask niigo if they have someone they would consider special enough to curse in this way; only to say "I don't, either," and how this makes them all kindred spirits. we can tell, however, that mizuki relates to this story far more than she's willing to let on. but she can't allow herself to be vulnerable or voice such things; if she says it, it will become real and she can't allow that due to her abandonment issues. meiko follows this scene to note that mizuki cares so much about these girls, yet how mizuki is the one she worries most for bc she carries a great weight — meiko's concern is further shown in a scene where mizuki goes to sekai when searching for mafuyu after she disappeared. there, she has a conversation with meiko. in that conversation, meiko tells mizuki "i hope you can stay together with niigo for a long time." further, at the end of the event, before singing IDsmile with everyone, mizuki explicitly states meiko was right — and that meiko is the one who most understands her feelings.

cherry blossoms are vital to every measure of this event and mizuki's life. petals fall in remembrance of every time mizuki's relationships have ended; every time someone has left her life, another petal mars the environs before her. these people could not accept her bc they discovered her "truth" and thus those relationships could never develop into something meaningful or lasting. cherry blossoms are symbolic of both endings and beginnings; "rebirth" inherently intertwined with death. when niigo as a whole struggles deeply with suicidal ideation, this amplifies the sense mizuki has, perhaps, the most intense desire for death of all.

it makes sense that mizuki has such negativity for cherry blossoms as all her life she's had to simply observe at a distance when others transitioned through so many stages of life while maintaining relationships with others — while she was disallowed such a simple, such a fundamental experience for something she can't help and something that is an inherent part of who she is.

in umineko the thesis statement says, "without love, it cannot be seen." the sea can be vibrant blue and miserable gray at the same time, depending on the person looking upon it and whether they're human or furniture. it is not until mizuki stands there, looking at niigo, that she realizes cherry blossoms could be beautiful. it is not until she is allowed love that she can see color. it is not until she is allowed to be human that she becomes terrified of the future. meiko is, in many ways, the 'degendered' aspect of mizuki; if nothing else, she is a symbol of how degendering means turning an individual into an emotionless doll without the right for recognition or further analysis. meiko is a self that was forced into existence bc mizuki can no longer continue to ignore her own humanity in full — the "doll" side of her is now looking at her dispassionately and telling her you can't go on like this, you can't go on bottling up all your emotions.

thus, we see that her worst memories are utterly recontexualized due to the narrative she wove throughout the event culminating in a tree for which mizuki had nevered accounted. this was a mysterious thing discovered by mafuyu (much as the sekai is full of things for them to discover, things that were always there, that they simply needed eyes with which to see). mizuki previously decided against cherry blossom viewing with the others bc of those painful memories. and now… the culmination of their trip is an unexpected viewing which leads to kanade being inspired. the "spoken" goal that mizuki had hidden her "secret" goals beneath.

yet there's still an unshakeable fear within mizuki. the joy of seeing such a sight with those she cherishes also leads to terror at the idea of revealing her secret. though she now has "love", she does not have faith. she cannot guarantee their relationship will continue as it has unless she remains a cis girl in their eyes. she's at a loss for words when the realization of how truly attached she is to niigo hits and that she isn't content with being alone anymore and actually wants to be with them by next year...

we come to an end, but i always have to express… just how much i adore this event. how i love the focus it gives mizuki's perspective, her interiority. she is always thinking. analyzing. inferring. investigating. she presents herself as extroverted and playful, but that is The Shield. it lets her keep others at arm's length and gives her a mask to hide both her loneliness and anxiety. despite her desire for closeness and connection with niigo, there is an immense degree of conflict within her. they began as simple online friends working on songs, but it was never that personal or close. it shifted quicker than she could ever expect once they met in sekai and then in real life, leading to more intimate understandings of one another. it's exciting, exhilarating, and terrifying. mizuki wants to be closer, wants to know them better, to discover new sides, but this comes with an immense cost. she sets the stage for them to express themselves or work through their issues while withdrawing herself. she is the playwright and never the performer, despite her life itself being endless performance. she's there and yet not. she becomes a ghost - yuurei - bourei - herself. she echoes meiko's sentiment, "i plan to keep my distance and observe how things go for you."

secret distance is about mizuki archiving, revisiting her pain, digging into the past, and ultimately… chasing her own ghost until she realizes that she can no longer be that ghost anymore...

[neonhellscape]

hope you dont mind me jumping in here i have too many thoughts- tbh I'm kinda of the mindset that it's less the mechadendrites will do the work and more. i mean tech priests are making themselves in their own image, effectively. they dont even have beauty standards to influence them, they only have the direction of flesh bad/metal good and then go absolutely fucking wild with it

so a human would decide okay, i need returned function as quickly as possible. achilleas gets functional, elegant prosthetics made up that do comply a lot to his personal style and more typical beauty standards within that. but fundamentally, theyre there to serve a purpose, and are blackened metal with exposed components. you can barely even see them aside from the light of the data slate [and artist intention], he could passably pretend to have gloves on, if you're in a dark room. he doesnt want them to be a focal point, even if they kinda are to a viewer not used to these things [augments being way more common in 40k that people would probably barely notice]

pasqal meanwhile has gone a different way. his prosthetic is incredibly stylised- i mean again see the fact i can't actually count any practical component there. it's not what a human would go for, realistic or subtle, or overelaborate- it looks like industrial machinery. pasqal has his in a burnished silvery-gold alloy, distinctly displays it by keeping his axe in that hand which pushes his sleeve back enough to show off the exposed wiring in his forearm- wiring that makes no sense unless its decorative. looking at this again its even in little curved waves- a repeating pattern. the rivets too are unnecessary and decorative, they Cannot hold any structural force where they are. but they do tie in to the industrial look fantastically alongside the shaped metal

when you look at the art, his other hand/wrist is pretty slim, and kinda delicate. as proven by achilleas, if he wanted to match he could. by nature of differing proportions kinda messing with the brain, him having one really bulky arm/hand and one really slim one isnt the choice most people would go for. it'd be the substandard choice to patch the gap until your custom piece came in- not a custom crafted piece

through the eyes of a man who will become and is becoming machine, it's perfect. its heavy and durable- no weakness of the flesh. it's crafted to display a level of technical skill even beyond base requirement, then maintained perfectly to further show technical skill- better than his fucking robes at least jesus christ the dust and tears on that thing [btw- something he doesnt care about. something organtic, and irrelevant to the machine- only required by him for social protocol].

the guy has heavy looking weapons gear and reels of chains around his waist- idk if you lot have handled thick metal chain like that but im pretty strong and it is fucking Heavy, and thats without the quantity he's wearing. hell thats probably again a decorative counterbalance system just to put his center of gravity lower to the floor bc so much is at his shoulders. i know i draw him different [i kinda see it as resting mode [noodle mechadendrites] vs explorator mode [diamond drill bit easy access]] but based on the art his mechadendrites look like industrial tech- it looks like someone bolted two crane arms to his back. tech wise these do look like they make more technical sense, even if they are decorative in themselves, which reinforces the extremely decorative nature of his arm. and too his respirator- that isnt standard tech priest respirator. its heavy looking, its elaborate with its tubation and wiring- again if i were to list every function of every tube going into/out of that thing i'd run out of options, and thats if i ignored the vapour/smoke coming out of the vents by his face. we also know he's kept it despite the damage- considering the staples on his face highlighting the scar on his body that matches, i'd say the lack of repair is decorative too. he Could get it repaired or replaced with absolute ease, so this is an aesthetic choice

this is so many words but [throwing my tech priest at the crowd] look at him he's getting gender affirming drill attachments and god does he have an ego, just one the average human cant really process because your kind cling to your flesh as if it will not decay and fail you one day the crude biomass that you call a temple will wither and y

i was told to post these observations i made at whatever fucking hour on how functional achilleas' prosthetic hands are vs how decorative pasqal's are despite each kinda looking the opposite way round. i hope they are interesting

[ettawritesnstudies]

@writeblrfantasy gave me the excuse to ramble about history in the Laoche Chronicles (this post specifically) so I’m going to copy/paste my tags here and go from there! There’s a few spoilers but they’re marked with caps and italic, so I’ll put it under a cut too. Sorry in advance for the infodump...

#I cannot decide my favorite period of history but I love learning about catholic history and especially the early church#ancient history too I mean who are we kidding it's fascinating

OK SO in Maaren (the city state that Storge takes place in), there’s a small religious sect called the Followers of the Artist that are forced into hiding by the polytheist Daziam religion of the Atilan. There’s a LOT of dogmatic differences between the Followers and early Christianity, it’s not a direct insert and plays it’s own unique role in the story, but one thing I did seriously draw on was how marginalized communities have to stick together in order to survive.

The Roman empire was an AWFUL place for all sorts of minorities and the early Church was a haven and support structure for people who didn’t have anywhere else to turn. A ton of early converts were women, who brought their families with them! Mother Mary was really the mother to the whole church and all the other ladies who converted were just as much of a backbone to keep their communities running as anyone else. For example, Sts. Priscilla and Aquila were tent makers and friends of St. Paul who helped him in his ministry and used their home as a base for their ministry. And there are so many martyrs that died to protect their communities I can’t even name them all here.

So that was a huge influence for the Followers of the Artist! They practice in secret catacombs underneath one of their member’s homes (who I named after St. Philomena), they cover for each other, and use special code words to make sure it’s safe to discuss their beliefs without being outed. The word “Storge” which is the Greek word for familial love. It takes on it’s own meaning in the story, it’s a declaration of protection, that anyone who is a Follower is part of the family and deserves unconditional love. They take care of their own and the people most in need.

SPOILER: Luca even sacrifices himself twice to protect his family and his community, first by turning himself into Lyss which is when she steals part of his magic to create a powerful magic Staff, and then giving up his magic to defeat her once and for all and “destroy” the staff. He survives, because I love a happy ending, but he’s meant to fit that martyr archetype as a flawed person who was still willing to give it all up for his love of humanity, to save even the people who persecuted them. and it’s not just Luca being the chosen one hero that saves the day. The Avian City is destroyed, Acheran and Chara have to make hard choices too. It’s his whole family and the community agreeing to the decision and supporting each other that allows them to have that happy ending and aaaaaaaaaaaa I’m so soft about this but I can’t talk about it that much bc spoilers, so just know that I was crying while writing the climax of the book.

... moving on.

#ALSO the renaissance and industrial revolutions anytime tech takes a leap I love hearing about the history of science#marie curie my hero#and so in my wips Storge starts in the ancient history part of the world where they have and use magic#but they don't understand the fundamentals of how the world works yet#and then in the trilogy proper they've had time to develop their technology after a dark ages event set them back#so they're a little better but they lost a lot#and the events of the main trilogy send them into a magical revolution spurred on by what the characters discover and I'm so so so excited t#to write that#and so much of my worldbuilding is about the rise and fall of civilizations over time#and modeling it off patterns in history#because weather it's earth or Laoche people are still people

SPOILERS: when Luca gives up his magic during the climax, the surrounding battle and impact causes extensive damage to the Avian city and when it (and the Atilan power structure) crumble, a ton of valuable information is lost. The Staff wasn’t destroyed, rather it’s got new, scary magic properties, and so Acheran studies it, then locks it away where no one can use it to hurt anyone again.They get a happy ending where they get to set about fixing so many of the structural problems that made their life miserable, but they can only do that because they’re rebuilding from the rubble.

No Spoilers, just vague Laoche set up: 

So anyhow, there’s about a thousand years (give or take a century) of Medieval times while the avians diaspora and Maaren’s political influence declines, and there are skirmishes with Arga and they’re trying to rebuild like after the fall of the Roman Empire. There are pockets of power and succession crises and good art is made and learning is preserved through dedicated efforts in the parts of the world that aren’t currently on fire.

By the time we hit the Laoche Chronicles, things are starting to settle! The main characters are students at a magic-focused university/academy in the capital of Arga and they’re learning about what hasn’t been lost to time. New research is going on and for final projects, students are sent on field research to find more information and bring it back to the academics. It’s all heavily influenced by the politics and it has its flaws as every educational system does but that’s an infodump for another post. Anyhow this results in Stephan, Madelyn, and Alric going to Maaren to retrieve the legendary staff and bring it back for further research, instead of just leaving it alone as a relic/artifact.

Unfortunately for them, the specific dangerous property of the staff is equivalent to magical radiation. There’s a mutant forest growing in the ruins of the city in what-once-was-a-desert, and when Alric brings the staff back, it’s like delivering the secrets of nuclear energy. The ensuing trilogy deals with the aftermath, and how the new magi-science they’ve found can be used for great good and for great evil. The protagonists are trying to get back power of their kingdom before the usurpers can destroy everything, but then once they have power again, they have to DEAL with this without becoming power hungry themselves, and it launches off a whole industrial revolution. Even once their story ends, I have this world to play in and make other stories exploring all the different facets of what I’ve set up and I’m just! Very very excited to write this!

[pornnutchajivasakapimaspreaw]

Credit-By-Examination Tests Can Help You Finish College Faster

Written by Porrnutcha Jivasakapimas  Published Jul 7, 2020 10:02 pm 

Many people may be concerned about how I can finish my bachelor’s degree faster for many reasons — “I’m a reapplying student.”, I’d like to lighten my family’s load earlier.”, “I’d like to share my family’s work sooner.”, etc.—. But only taking the exceeding maximum of credits per semester/trimester might not be the right solution since you’ll have to work double hard and have decent time management to stuff many subjects in your class schedule. Here is another alternative that will help you gain credits for certain college subjects without needing to study such subjects for the whole semester/trimester. We Will Explore College Equivalency Exam  ~ ~ ~ 

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Advanced Placement examinations (AP exams)

(Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, 2019)

Advanced Placement examinations (AP exams) are exams created by  College Board, the same organization that produces SAT which is international university entrance exam. Betting all MUIC students who did not take direct exam must have taken SAT, so you guys might know about College Board. However, not many people know about AP exams since they do not arrange the tests frequently as SAT (7 times for U.S. and 4 times for international). AP exams only available annually which is around May. It can substitute many subjects we’re studying in college and is acceptable broadly (Even our university, MUIC, has accepted AP exam as well). AP exams often comes the format of multiple choices mostly with some short/long answers, depending on subjects. I recommend you take AP were you an MUIC student since MUIC receives AP and IB exams as a credit transfer, which can help accelerating your graduation.

Here is the full list of AP tests available. Take a look and if see if any subjects here match with subjects in you major, and considering taking it. You can register for AP as same as when you register for SAT. There are 38 exams in total:

AP Research

AP Seminar

Art History

Biology

Calculus AB

Calculus BC

Chemistry

Chinese Language and Culture

Computer Science A

Computer Science Principles

English Language and Composition

English Literature and Composition

Environmental Science

European History

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Government and Politics (Comparative)

Government and Politics (US)

Human Geography

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language and Culture

Latin

Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

Music Theory

Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Physics 2: Algebra-Based

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Physics C: Mechanics

Psychology

Spanish Language and Culture

Spanish Literature and Culture

Statistics

Studio Art Drawing

Studio Art 2-D Design

Studio Art 3-D Design

US History

World History (Modern)

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College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

(Action Economics, 2014)

CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program. It’s more like GED tests, the testes where you take only 4 subjects, if passed, then you’d get a high school diplomat without having to go to the school for 3 year, doing any projects, or take midterms&finals. Sound convenient right? But CLEP isn’t exactly the same with GED. You cannot escape four years in a college even though you took CLEP. However, you can take some subjects that you hate (to go to the college to study it), and if you passed the CLEP exam of that subject you hate, that’s all. You don’t need to register to study such subject for the whole trimester. You can just transfer you score result and get the credits for that subject. No need to register for the course or enter any classes. This type of exams has both merit and pitfall when compared to its alternative, AP exams. 

CLEP is better than AP that it is available year round. Just like GED, the exam is computer-based. So, you can appoint the test date in advanced and walk in to take the exams any day, anytime within the office hour that you’ve appointed. Since it’s internet-based exam, the score is calculated and reported immediately right after you finished. Nonetheless, CLEP isn’t as popular and broadly accepted as AP exams, and it’s testing centers are available only in foreign countries. Were you to take it, the nearest test center is at Dalat International School, Malasia. Apart from Webster University Thailand - Bangkok, I’ve never seen any other university in Thailand receives CLEP before, but talking about abroad universities, 2,900 colleges already granted/received CLEP.

Here are the sets of CLEP exams available via computer-based platform. It is arranged by 5  subject branches which are further divided into sub-subjects  

Composition and Literature

These exams cover topics related to American and British literature and composition.

American Literature

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

College Composition

College Composition Modular

English Literature

Humanities

World Languages

These exams assess comprehension of French, German, and Spanish.

Read more about World Languages

French Language: Levels 1 and 2

German Language: Levels 1 and 2

Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2

Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2

History and Social Sciences

These exams cover topics related to history, economics, and psychology.

Read more about History and Social Sciences

American Government

History of the United States I

History of the United States II

Human Growth and Development

Introduction to Educational Psychology

Introductory Psychology

Introductory Sociology

Principles of Macroeconomics

Principles of Microeconomics

Social Sciences and History

Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648

Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present

Science and Mathematics

These exams cover various science disciplines and different levels of math.

Read more about Science and Mathematics

Biology

Calculus

Chemistry

College Algebra

College Mathematics

Natural Sciences

Precalculus

Business

These exams cover various business disciplines.

Read more about Business

Financial Accounting

Information Systems

Introductory Business Law

Principles of Management

Principles of Marketing

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DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

(DSST Credit by Exam Program, 2014)

DSST (formerly DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) are credit-by-examination tests originated by the United States Department of Defense's Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program. The program is an extensive series of 33 examinations in college subject areas that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examinations in undergraduate college courses. These tests are frequently used in conjunction with CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests by students pursuing college degrees in non-traditional formats. Whereas CLEP tests are almost exclusively used for lower level credit at regionally accredited institutions, DSST's are available for both upper and lower level credit.

Prometric administers Internet-based versions of DSSTs under contract with the Defense Department (for military personnel) or on a fee basis (for civilians).

Business

Business Ethics and Society Business Mathematics Human Resource Management Introduction to Business Management Information Systems Organizational Behavior Money and Banking Personal Finance Principles of Finance Principles of Supervision

Humanities

Ethics in America Introduction to World Religions Principles of Public Speaking Principles of Advanced English Composition Math

Fundamentals of College Algebra Principles of Statistics Math for Liberal Arts Physical Science

Astronomy Environmental Science  Health and Development  Principles of Physical Science I Introduction to Geology Social Sciences

A History of the Vietnam War Art of the Western World Criminal Justice Foundations of Education Fundamentals of Counseling General Anthropology Introduction to Geography (formerly Human/Cultural Geography) Introduction to Law Enforcement Lifespan Developmental Psychology History of the Soviet Union (formerly Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union) Substance Abuse The Civil War and Reconstruction

Technology

Fundamentals of Cybersecurity Technical Writing Ethics in Technology

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Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)

(UExcel, 2013) 

Excelsior College Examinations (or ECE) are a series of eight, three-credit nursing theory tests offered by Excelsior College in Albany, New York. The exams are supported by corresponding online courses. Excelsior also offers the Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam, a two-day practical skills exam, as a capstone to the associate degree in nursing.

Excelsior also offers over 50 UExcel exams in liberal arts, business, education, and science. Many colleges and universities will grant college credit for each test, although UExcel credit is not as widely accepted as CLEP and DSST.

The exam administration period is typically 3 hours and the tests currently cost between $110 and $335. Each exam usually corresponds to a one or two semester introductory or secondary course on the topic, and many exams provide upper-division credit. Most ECE exams are considered equivalent to 3 credits in the semester system.

ECE exams are offered through Excelsior College and are administered at Pearson VUE test centers.

International Students: UExcel exams are administered at select international Pearson VUE Test Centers.

Abnormal Psychology

Adult Nursing 

Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology I

Anatomy and Physiology II

Basic Genetics

Bioethics: Philosophical Issues

Business Ethics

Business Information Systems

Business Law

Calculus

College Writing

Contemporary Mathematics

Cultural Diversity

Earth Science

English Composition

Ethics: Theory & Practice

Financial Accounting

Foundations of Gerontology

Fundamentals of Nursing 

General Chemistry I

Human Resource Management

Interpersonal Communication

Introduction to Computer Programming Using Java

Introduction to Macroeconomics

Introduction to Microeconomics

Introduction to Music

Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

Juvenile Delinquency

Labor Relations

Life Span Developmental Psychology

Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School

Managerial Accounting

Maternal and Child Nursing (Baccalaureate) *

Microbiology

Operations Management

Organizational Behavior

Pathophysiology

Physics

Political Science

Precalculus Algebra

Principles of Finance

Principles of Management

Principles of Marketing

Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing *

Psychology of Adulthood & Aging

Quantitative Analysis

Research Methods in Psychology

Science of Nutrition

Social Psychology

Spanish Language

Statistics

Weather and Climate

Workplace Communication With Computers

World Conflicts Since 1900

World Population

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References

Advanced Placement exams. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Placement_exams

Choose Your Exam. (n.d.). Excelsior College. Retrieved from

https://www.excelsior.edu/exams/choose-your-exam/

CLEP Exams. (n.d.). College Board. Retrieved from

https://clep.collegeboard.org/exams

College Level Examination Program. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Level_Examination_Program

DSST (standardized test). (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSST_(standardized_test)

Edwards, H. (2020, Mar 21). Complete List of AP Courses and Tests.

PrepScholar. Retrieved from https://blog.prepscholar.com/list-of-ap-exams

Excelsior College Examinations. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excelsior_College_Examinations

[Image of AP exmas logo]. (2019, November 1) 

https://ghs.gcisd.net/news/what_s_new/a_p_testing

[Image of CLEP logo]. (2014, June 26)

https://actionecon.com/use-clep-exams-save-10000-college-costs/ 

[Image of DSST logo]. (2014, February 19)

https://www.facebook.com/DSSTgetcollegecredit/photos/a.429281599830/10152188095469831/?type=1&theater 

[Image of Uexcel logo]. (2013, June 29)

https://www.facebook.com/UExcel/photos/a.430030276477/10151462609561478/?type=1&theater

Images - Writing and Citing: APA 7th Edition. (2020, Jul 10). LibGuides. 

Retrieved from https://libguides.scf.edu/c.php?g=847004&p=6077102

Schinder, S. (n.d.). DSST Exam List. Study.com. Retrieved from 

https://study.com/academy/popular/dsst-exam-list.html

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[lsestoic]

My personal case for Stoicism - and its opponents

Why Stoicism?

The Ancient philosophy dates back to 300 BC by one of its founders, Zeno of Citium. Since then, Stoicism has seen a modern revival, with authors like Ryan Holiday and Massimo Pigliucci helping to popularise its ancient teachings for a mainstream audience.

It is the latter author who has helped to systematise and explain the central tenets of Stoicism. Fundamentally, Stoicism poses the question, how does one live? And goes on to break down the responses to this question in three main principles: firstly, that virtue (or what is ‘good’) cannot be traded for what we don’t need, like luxuries or superficial goods. Secondly, that we ‘live according to our nature’ and approach the world with both courage and moderation when we act. And lastly, that we grasp the dichotomy of control that determines our actions, and that we only lead our lives through things we can control.

This is a lot to unpack and certainly raises more questions than answers. For example, what is ‘good’ if it differs from one person to the next, let alone vast cultural differences? And is Stoicism teaching us to feel indifferent or detached from wrongs inflicted on us, if they are indeed ‘out of our control’?

Before I get to answer these questions, I want to share how I personally got into Stoicism and why I’m sticking with it.

Stoicism for me has been a ‘long dawn’. That means, it has broken into the horizon of my thought many times - only to be interrupted by the flicker and fancy of another ideology or life philosophy. My first encounter with learning about and reading Stoicism was in sixth form, before university, when I read one of the key texts, Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. At the time, despite the notoriously difficult writing style, I was impressed by the ambition of its task to respond to the dilemmas one encounters in life. It goes on to list philosophical exercises (or the Greek term, ‘askesis’) that could train the mind, like one would train the body, to resist the temptation of desire and instead act with confidence.

(As an aside, Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who ruled in the second century AD and ended his reign in the midst of the Antonine Plague named after him. Something to think about when one reads him, as we experience our own pandemic!)

My own spiritual upbringing brings me adjacent to Stoic teachings. I was raised in a Buddhist family and I’m proud that I was exposed to these profound questions about how to live life and conduct myself with others from a young age. Of course, there are differences between Buddhism and Stoicism - in my opinion, Buddhism puts more emphasis on suffering as the root of spiritual understanding while Stoicism stresses individual action within the constitution of our nature or worldly logic. Regardless, I have picked and considered views from each practice to make my understanding of Stoicism more nuanced and deliberative.

It is exactly that cosmopolitan perspective which is part of Stoicism. It carries on from the influence of Diogenes the Cynic, who was the first to say ‘I am a citizen of the world’. To be cosmopolitan means that Stoicism is open to practice for all, and can be seen as a set of techniques or exercises that anyone regardless of background can start to train themselves with.

Often, Stoicism is viewed by its stereotype. Its practitioners are cold, indifferent and detached. Perhaps a more serious critique but, it is seen as practised mainly by white, middle-aged men and their young followers. Similarly, Stoicism is viewed as individualistic and practitioners are privileged enough not to need to consider social concerns in their everyday lives.

While I understand where this critique comes from, in my opinion Stoicism is what you make of it. It is not a religion nor a doctrine with an authority that you must follow and conform with. The strength of Stoicism lies in its flexibility of practice and timelessness - in each historical era, Stoicism has gone on to inspire debates and provoke discussion, such as thinkers like Montaigne and the Enlightenment, as it touches on questions fundamental to the human condition. It has gone on to influence modern psychotherapy, as seen in the cognitive behavioural school which rests on the Stoic principle that perception and thoughts of a situation determines one’s behaviour towards it. Stoicism has uses beyond arm-chair debates and the recluse, but can inspire real change and action in people’s lives.

With all this said, why not start engaging with Stoicism now? LSE Stoics is a new group, officially part of LSE Philosophy society. We are running a reading group which starts in this Michaelmas term and all are welcome, including those who are beginners or just curious. We plan to go through the three main Stoic texts and provide interesting discussion of Stoicism every week. But these details and more will be explained in our first meet and greet meeting on Wednesday 23rd September 2020.

I am so excited. This has been a brief overview and exploration of the main views in Stoicism. If you’re interested in finding out more, message me for the zoom link to our meet and greet at LSE Stoics.

Just bring yourselves! Togas and wine are optional.

Useful resources:

Primary texts:

The Enchiridion of Epictetus

The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

The Letters and Essays of Seneca the Younger

Secondary texts:

How to Be a Stoic (2017) Massimo Pigliucci

A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William Irvine

The Daily Stoic (2016) Ryan Holiday

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“So, it’s not gonna be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me… everyday.” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

All Aboard RelationSHIPS

The Art of Combining my Life with Yours

Hello, 

It’s Friday the 13th, I’m writing to you from a quaint coffee shop here in Gastown , Vancouver, BC.

It’s taken me a while to finally get to write this thing. (what’s new) 

But here we are…

So as per the results of my Instagram poll, this will be a conversation about what I believe it takes to be in a committed relationship. 

So often nowadays I hear of couples who once adored each other, who once talked about spending the rest of their lives together, break up for no apparent reason. Myself included.

No one’s cheated, no one’s physically hurt the other, no ones ultimately betrayed the other. So why are these relationships ending? Why is it that two people who once adored one another, suddenly decide that they’re no longer right for each other? Why are people, who say they eventually dream of getting married, end up giving up on their partner? I’m hearing reasons like; I just fell out of love. They just weren’t right for me. My heart just wasn’t in it anymore. They weren’t enough of this or too much of that… 

Here’s what I think:

We are quick to blame. We are quick to quit. We are quick to judge. We are quick to start looking for something better when we suddenly aren’t getting everything we want. We always want better. Though, perfect does not exist. I’m (now) a true believer in; “The grass is not greener on the other side, It’s greener where you WATER it.”

DISCLAIMER:

-These are only theories - based on my own experiences.

-These are not by any mean factual. They are merely perceptual. (as is anything in this world)

-I understand your experience might be very different than mine, which does not make your way of loving or living any less right.

-I will be talking about what it means to take responsibility for your choices and how you show up - this does not mean; to go ahead and blame yourself for circumstances that are clearly out of your control. Please remember that.

so without further a-do 

lets get crackin’!

First, take a moment to ask yourself what it means to you to be in a committed relationship? What does it mean to be in love? What does it mean to love someone? What does it mean to break up? What are your reasons to get out of a relationship? What are your reasons for not getting into a relationship in the first place? What do you ultimately want for yourself and your love life?

And now, are your choices reflecting the values you’ve set for yourself?

My definition of love and definition of a committed relationship has evolved in the past couple of years, in ways I truly never thought it would. I’ve dated my fair share of different individuals - choosing them solely based on how they made me feel. Based on how much giddiness they created for me. Blindly hoping, that this time, it would work out. Choosing them based on all the wrong reasons, based on all the wrong values. That being said, it didn’t mean I fell any less in love with them. Even if I was somehow picking the wrong people. I was madly in love every time. Or should I say; I was madly in lust. Either way, needless to say, these clearly never lasted. Except for my very first love, which was a bumpy ride of a relationship, & lasted for more than 3 years. 

Why do I think they never lasted? Truthfully, partly because I didn’t know how to take responsibility for my own actions. Also, I didn’t have the emotional language I have today to have been able to express myself properly. I was a bundle of emotions with no direction, no guidance. I don’t blame my ex-lovers for not being able to stick around, how were they supposed to know how to deal with me, when I didn’t even know how to deal with myself?

You can’t hold someone else accountable for the outcome of your relationship if you can’t hold yourself accountable for your own actions. 

This is a touchy subject, because all of what I’m saying is purely based on my experiences. Where you’re at in your journey and what you’ve determined you need right now, may not resemble me at all. And that’s ok. For now, for the sake of reading a blog, hear me out & let’s go for a ride.

First; I’d say in a “relationship”, but I’ll say “Friendship” ( because any couple should ultimately be great friends to begin with) there needs to be a mutual decision to be committed to one another. I’m not talking puppy love commitment . I’m not talking, “let’s be bf/gf until we’re not anymore” - - commitment. Not the - “I won’t cheat on you because I’m not technically allowed to, since I’ve called you my bf/gf already” commitment. I’m talking about the ; I consciously & consistently choose you. I choose you to be my teammate. I choose you to be my partner. I choose you to be my best friend. I’ve decided I won’t give up on you - that kind of  “committed to one another”. The commitment that goes beyond the initial attraction. The commitment that meets the other persons soul. The commitment that meets the other person half way, because they also choose you wholeheartedly.

Also you need to know, you have your own work to do in a relationship and your partner has theirs. You are, ultimately, 2 different entities. You can take responsibility for your half of the equation (and I’ll get into, how , in just a moment) but you absolutely cannot take all of it. 

You need to be vulnerable, not for your partner, but for yourself. Which means you identify when and why you feel what you’re feeling. 

Second; you have to have the will to make ends meet. Both of you. The will to work on your faults. The will to work together as a team to find solutions when you’re no longer calibrated, because kid you not, it will happen. If there’s no will there’s no way. 

You need to be honest, with your partner and yourself. Once you’ve identified what is going on, you voice it to your partner.

Then comes the compromise, the solution finding, and trial and error. 

This type of communication is not easy. 

NOT EASY. 

I think people nowadays underestimate what “Not Easy” means. It means it’s HARD. It’s uncomfortable. It means it’s not fun; it’s long, tedious, exhausting. Sometimes it feels hopeless. However, “Not Easy” does not mean, “Not Worth It”. 

I used to choose my men based on all the wrong reasons, to the point one day, I decided to have a checklist. I figured this was the perfect way of not dealing with bullshit. I believed this was exactly how I was going to pick the right person. The person that would be exactly what I wanted. Surely if they’re exactly what I want then it would last forever. 

Well that guy came along and it didn’t even last to the 4th month. So clearly lists and strict relationship diets are not 100% effective. I wanted someone that seemed like a “Fuck Yes” a no brainer - but easy turned out to be the hardest relationship I’ve had to this date, in the sense that it destroyed me. 

I then decided, I no longer had rules. I said yes to what ever the universe sent my way (get your head out of the gutter, not talking sex things)….. I said yes to meeting new people, people I would’ve otherwise never spoken to. I said yes to trips I would’ve otherwise not agreed to. 

During that time I said yes to someone who I’d been friends with for longer than I could remember. I said yes despite knowing it would not be an easy relationship if it were to ever turn into one. But I said yes. Because fundamentally we communicated properly, we knew who we were as individuals. There was definitely a sexual attraction there, we laughed, we enjoyed each other. I said yes to someone I otherwise wouldn’t have, and it was the best choice I ever made. It’s been wonderful and life changing. Anything but easy. I would be lying if I said there hasn’t been times where I wondered if it wouldn’t be easier to give up. 

Yes, it would be easier……. Somewhat.

Would it be worth it? To give up?

No.

Never. 

What has kept me holding on? Other than the fact, that I’m not only IN LOVE with him, but I simply love who he is as a human being.

Well! I want to get married one day. Which means I have already made the decision that I ultimately want to share my life with 1 person. I also know, no one is perfect. So then how am I supposed to justify wanting to be committed to one person if I run away when things get a little rocky?

If I give up, it means I was never fully committed in the first place. Which means I can’t expect anyone to be committed to me either.

Also, I find practicing at becoming a better human; growing intellectually, emotionally, and together, far more gratifying than having to start all over again every time. Any relationship will take work, will take calibration, due to the simple fact that 2 different human beings can’t always be on the same wave length. Shit just gets rocky sometimes. That’s fact. With anyone. So why would I want to drop all the hard work, for a temporary way out, just to start all over again with someone else down the road?! 

This will never be worth it to me. 

But yes, I have a limit. IF I’m finding the strength to communicate, to put the work in, I’m willing to try , try again……and try again. But if I’m asking for what I need and my needs can’t… not can’t but simply won’t be met, and the work isn’t reciprocated… Then there comes a time where I can’t do all the work myself. This could cause me to let go. IF I am betrayed, I’m talking, cheated on or hurt to the point of no return… I’ll let go. 

They’re called relationSHIPS for a reason, it isn’t always smooth sailing. There’s going to be waves and some rockier than others. Love takes work. It’s not just about a feeling. It’s either you’re on board or you can take your life raft back to shore. 

No do not stay in something that is toxic. Do not take responsibility for something that is out of your control either. If your partner lacks commitment, that is not a You problem. If you showed up 100% for yourself and your partner and tried your best at all times then that’s all you can do. However, If the relationship didn’t cause any real harm to you, & you haven’t fully given it a chance, you bail, know that this was your choice. Take full responsibility. It wasn’t because that person wasn’t right for you, It’s simply because you chose to decide she wasn’t. If you haven’t taken the time to ask for what you needed, If you didn’t give the person the chance to give that to you - If you blamed falling out of love as though this was out of your control, know that you did not commit to the relationship. This isn’t right or wrong, it is what it is, but take responsibility for it. I believe; If you’ve fallen for them before, you can fall for them again, question is, do you want to?

I’ll let you ponder…

on that note 

Ctrl+ Shift+ Live Love Laugh wholeheartedly (Btw, a little quality time goes a long way.) <3 . 

[josephinegalbraith95]

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